Friends hold BBQ fundraiser for motorcyclist killed Christmas Day
People closest to 27-year-old Fabian Hernandez-Americano put on a BBQ fundraiser today in Santa Maria to raise money for his funeral. Hernandez-Americano died in a Christmas Day motorcycle accident.
Friends and family gathered today at a home in Santa Maria to remember that man, but they said this wasn’t a time to mourn, it was a time to celebrate his life.
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The California Highway Patrol says during the late afternoon on Christmas Day, Hernandez-Americano and three other friends went for a motorcycle ride. While on Los Berros Road near Stanton Road in rural Arroyo Grande, officials say Hernandez-Americano suddenly accelerated and accidentally rear-ended his friend.
Hernandez-Americano was ejected and hit a fence causing major head and chest injuries. He was pronounced dead on scene by paramedics.
“We never knew it was going to be our last ride together,” Hernnandez Americano’s friend Richard Tafolla said.
Richard Tafolla was a close friend of 27-year-old Fabian HernandezAmericano.
“I’ll miss him, I’ll miss him for sure,” Tafolla said.
Friday afternoon was a chance to remember the good times. Hundreds of plates of chicken were sold to friends, family and people who just wanted to pay their respects.
“Awesome, awesome person, good worker, hard worker, always had a smile on his face,” HernandezAmericano’s manager Jesse Salazar said.
Salazar started grilling chicken for the bbq at one in the morning Friday.
“Proud to know a person like that, honored to be able to do something like this,” Salazar said.
Tafolla says as soon as his leg is healed, him and his buddies plan on doing a ride in their friend’s memory.If you would like to donate, you can contact Armando Garcia at 805-714-0020.
